Private investors from the mainland should seek opportunities overseas by relying on Hong Kong as a platform amid a sluggish domestic market and cooling economy, officials said on Monday.

"Combining the experience of Hong Kong as a global leading financial center, and the huge market and output of the Chinese mainland, investors from Hong Kong and the mainland can achieve mutual benefits in overseas strategies," said Xie Jingrong, vice-chairman of the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce.

Xie was speaking at a news conference for the Second China Overseas Investment Summit, which will be co-held by CCTV and the Hong Kong China Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong from Aug 21 to 23.

According to Yu Xiaosong, former chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Hong Kong has contributed to half of the foreign direct investment received by the Chinese mainland.

Meanwhile, half of overseas investment by the mainland was made via Hong Kong.

"China has more than $3 trillion of foreign exchange reserves, and the United States and Europe are expecting investment and M&As from China," said Chan King-wai, chairman of the Hong Kong China Chamber of Commerce.

"With the improvement of China's global status, and accelerating pace of overseas investment, Hong Kong will be a shortcut for the mainland's investors seeking overseas opportunities," Chen said.

The National Development and Reform Commission and the People's Bank of China, among others, issued a document to encourage private companies to boost overseas investment.

The document called for more support for the financing of Chinese investors overseas, including supporting bond issuances in overseas markets, and allowing lenders to use domestic loans in foreign currency.

However, "apart from financing, Chinese companies still face many other difficulties in overseas markets", said Zhao Xiaodi, secretary-general of the China Chamber of International Commerce.

Zhao said the conflicts in Libya last year and Syria this year indicate that Chinese companies need to pay more attention to overseas risks. Meanwhile, there is still much to improve in protecting their rights and benefits via legal means.